a year of laughter, lessons, and life experiences through the simple ABCs

Tag Archives: D is for Dance and Dine

Let me preface this post by announcing in a loud and clear voice that I am not a girl who likes to go clubbing. Strobe lights, expensive drinks,grinding, blech, totally not for me. I’m what you might call an introvert. Clubbing is not for introverts.

The goal of my.alphabet.year, though, is for me to step out of my comfort zone a little, to live life and see and do things I wouldn’t normally do. So while I didn’t exactly go clubbing, I did step out and shake my groove thing a little.

For starters, I decided to amo up before I went out for a night of dinner, dancing and fun. Put on my slutty heels, got my hair did, wore make up (gasp). Really trying to make the effort to do this right. I also brought Ashleigh, one of my best friends and most extroverted person I know. She could make cats become social animals. If anyone can help me find my social, dancing side, it’s Ashleigh.

So we went out to Jergels, in Wexford, for an interesting night. Let me preface this trip by saying that Jergels is a hodgepodge of clubbing rejects who all come together within 4 walls to try to feel relevant again. Ashleigh, who had never been there before, asked what the theme/mood of the place was. My response: Uhhh….a little country, a little biker bar, a little high class wannabe. After seeing the place for herself, she had to agre.

That’s not to say we didn’t have fun. We had a blast. A 70s cover band called Dancing Queen was there, and they were surprisingly good. Surprisingly loud, but surprisingly good. (Another reason why I will never get into clubbing: they play the music WAY too loud. Why must it be so loud you can’t talk to anyone else? Isn’t this supposed to be a social event? Aren’t we supposed to be able to verbally communicate with our friends? I swear, I felt like an 80 year old wishing I had ear plugs, noise-cancelling headphones, SOMETHING to help with the ridiculous volume they blasted the music at.

Easily the best part of the night, though, was the audience. A large group of people were there celebrating a birthday/bachelorette combo, and they decided to hit the dance floor looking like Kelso, Jackie, and Eric Foreman. And one disturbingly accurate Hyde. I’m not sure if the band knew what to do with them, as they crowded the dance floor and started a conga line. I mean, does Prince music really inspire a conga line? Anyone…anyone?

Our favorite was a couple in their late 50s, we’ll call them Bob and Suze. Now remember, these folks are older than my parents, and hanging out at Jergels on a Friday night. So you can already imagine where this is going. But Bob and Suze, in their late 50s, were there to par-tay, and party they did. They were all over each other. Imagine a middle school could that has just discovered they own a set of finely-tuned hormones. Groping, kissing, canoodling. If the dance floor was a little less crowded I cringe to think about what they might have done with the space and the opportunity. They were not dancing, or really enjoying the music, they were totally just into each other. Which, I guess is fine, glad Bob still digs Suze after being married for 30 years. The problem was all of this was displayed for us about 6 feet away from where we are. I could have reached out and touched Bob as he was all up on Suze. Suze might have killed me if I touched her man, but the possibility was there if I wanted to take it. Don’t worry, I didn’t.

In the end, Jergels wasn’t the kind of clubbing experience you’d expect a girl in her mid-20s to attend with 5 of her closest friends on a Friday night. Not even close. But I guess my.alphabet.year is about stepping outside the normal bounds of social, even in our own unique way. So I went dancing with a 70s cover band. With the gang from That 70s Show. Where I watched people who could be my parents get hot and heavy with each other. Definitely not your typical “night at the club”. But in its own way, it was the perfect night for all of us. Kicking it old school.

I’ll be back later this week with some updates. I’m about to go bake some pumpkin cupcakes with dolche de lache to top it off. Yummmmmmmmy. 🙂 Thank goodness fall is here, I love fall flavors.

Back from my almost week-long hiatus. Blame Initech and their ability to make my life a living hell. I don’t really want to talk about work, but let me be honest and candid with the faithful blog readers I have: if you know of a job in the Pittsburgh area, let me know. IMMEDIATELY!

So this week has been awful. That kind of week where you either want to kick a small child (I don’t think I will ever be allowed to legally reproduce) or break down on the couch with Ben and Jerry’s Half-Baked, the Notebook, and your favorite gal pals. I’ve teetered both directions this week.

Luckily, next week I’ll be back with a brand new post: D is for Dance and Dine. That’s right, I’m gonna bust my move. Well no, I’m gonna shake. Shake my groove thing.

There’s a band in Pittsburgh known as Dancing Queen. I’ve never heard of them, but see them for a concert, I will. They are a 70s and 80s tribute band. You know, two decades I really experienced first-hand. My experience of the 1980s revolved around cribs, diapers, Seasame Street and preschool. I’m not what you’d call “well-versed” in the 80s world.

But, oddly enough, this is where my life is taking me. One foot in front of the other, Day. One step at a time.

Sidebar: I have been listening to 90s music all week at work. What an amazing decade for music. I’m not just talking about Nsync, BSB, Hanson, and NKOTB (though they do count). I had Third Eye Blind on repeat today for awhile. (Did not realize THOSE were the lyrics to Semi-Charmed Life when I was 10) Followed by some old school Weezer, it’s Buddy Holly’s birthday after all. TLC’s Scrubs, R Kelly’s Bump and Grind, Spice Up Your Life by the fabulous Spice Girls. WHY ARE THERE NO 90s COVER BANDS?!?!?!?My generation feels so neglected. Let’s start one! Oh, C could be for Cover Band. The Hootie Matthews Project? Weezing Pumpkins? Or some acronym a la boy bands. Music of the Nineties are Kick Ass: MONAKA. Boom. Cover band name done. Who’s in?

So this is my life. Dreaming up 90s cover band names in my room on a Friday while the tv blares in the back round. What do you mean, I’m part of the over stimuli-zed generation? My cell phone is on its charger right now, thank you very much!

I’m switching some letters around. You’ll hear about this soon. Maybe this weekend if I can get my act together. It’s a pretty big deal, to be honest. I will be setting foot on a holy ground that I have not seen in over 9 long years. Get ready.

See you soon. Happy weekend!!

Lis

P.S. A friend of mine (don’t ask how, the 100 degrees it takes to link her to me up are ridiculous) is going to be studying in Rome this semester. I am mucho jealous, as that is where I fell in love with Italy. She’s going through the same college program I went through, and I know she’ll love it. If you’d like to read about Rome, stalk random people you’ve never met, or finally find out if they do make teaberry gelatto, give her blog a glance. Or two. Buona fortuna, Amy!

By now the anticipation must be coursing through your veins: Lis is starting an AWESOME BLOG! You could barely sleep last night after reading my post-Olympic post. You’re dying to know how I’m going to pull this off in a year. Some of you are thinking to yourself, “I wonder if I can join in on these adventures?”

The answers to those questions are, of course I’m going to pull this off, and YES PLEASE JOIN ME!

Before we start, though, here are the rules I’ve established for the next year:

1. I will complete one adventure every other week for the next year, starting August 3, 2012. This can be slightly flexible to allow for other weekend interruptions, such as holidays, weddings, and dreaded work at Initech.

2. As much as possible, I will try to go in alphabetical order. That is not always possible, though, given the Pennsylvania weather. So some weekends will be out of order. All letters will be covered by the end of the year, though.

3. The alphabet list I have is a working list. It can, at any time, be altered depending on my mood and ideas. Part of this year-long journey is about growth. Maybe even physically. Would it be such a crime for me to be able to reach the top shelf at the grocery store without climbing on the lower shelves?

4. These activities are designed for anyone at any time. I can (and plan to) complete many of these activities a la solo. It’s a way for me to relax, unwind, and regroup. However, many of these activities are that much more amazing with friends and family, and trust me, over the next year you’ll meet them all. That being said, let me know if you want to join me on any adventures. Most of them will be announced a week in advance, so if you’re free, and looking for a fun activity, feel free to let me know.

5. We are working on a next-to-nothing budget right now. The cheaper the better. There are a few exceptions to this, which you’ll read about, but even those are being researched, coupon-ed, and discounted as much as possible.

And now, what you’ve all been waiting for: The list of events

A is for Antique Hunting

B is for Bike Riding

C is for Corn Maze

D is for Dance and Dine

E is for Elegance

F is for Fried Food

G is for Gardens

H is for Hiking Adventures

I is for International Escape

J is for Junk Food Junkie

K is for Kite Flying

L is for Life on the Line

M is for Mason-Dixon Line

N is for Niceties

O is for Organization Patrol

P is for Pamper Party

Q is for Quidditch

R is for Roller Coaster Tycoon

S is for Simon Says

T is for Tourist Trap

U is for Under the Stars

V is for Volunteering

W is for Waves and Water

X is for eXact change

Y is for Yard Sale-ing

Z is for Zoology

So now I have to ask…what do you think of the list? Anything you’d add or remove?

I’ll see you in a few days to announce my first destination. Then you can decide if you want to come with me on my initial quest.